The San Diego Padres' ongoing quest for a World Series (or at least a playoff title). "You know that many runners enter a race, but only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever." 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

What a Team

The Padres came back from a 7-1 deficit on Monday and won the game. They came back to get five runs but lost 6-5 on Tuesday night.

But on Wedensday, the momentum went right to the Padres from the very beginning of the game.

The feeling-muchas better Adrian Gonzalez was ready to play. And get back that just-miss of the night before. After David Eckstein’s single, Adrian hit his 18th homer of the season in the top of the first.

Jake threw 6.1 solid innings. He didn’t give anything up until the sixth, where he gave up three. He gave up one more in the seventh, and then was taken out of the game. It wasn’t his greatest outing (he allowed eight hits and struck out only five), but he was good enough to win. He has never done well at Chase Field, so we can use that excuse. But after the game, we found out that he pitched through a little ankle tendonitis. AHHHHHH!! Thankfully, it’s not that bad, and he was able to pitch. I think it bothered him as he worked deeper into the game, and that’s why he gave up the four runs near the end there.

He says he’ll be fine to pitch on Monday, but we’ll see. Hopefully he will get better soon!!

Anyways, in the sixth, the Padres added three more runs. Brian Giles tripled, then David Eckstein drove him in. Scott Hairston singled, Adrian singled in Eck, and Kouz sac-flied Scotty in.

In the eighth, we got three more. Eck walked, and Scotty laid down a sacrifice. The pitcher fielded it, threw to first, and down the right field line it went. Eck came all the way around to score, and Scotty ended up at third. Adrian and Kouz then walked. With the bases loaded, Chase walked to drive in a run. An out later, Henry Blanco drove in out eighth run.

Luke Gregerson and Edward Mujica threw well, but Greg Burke gave up his first run of the season in the ninth. That made it a save situation, so Heath Bell came in to save it. He got one out and his 14th save in 14th chances this year. We won 8-5!

So we took the rubber game and our fourth series in a row. We are now 24-23, still 8.5 games behind though. The Dodgers are not helping at all. They were supposed to fall apart without Manny! Now we’ve just won 11 out of our last 12 and we haven’t gained a game on the Dodgers!!! Veerrry frustrating.

You know what else is frustrating? Eric Byrnes. The dude looks really weird, and he keeps making really good plays against us. I feel really bad for Chris Burke. He was robbed, TWICE, by Byrnes.

Burkey is starting to get into a great hitting groove, but Byrnes was just robbing him. How rude! I think Burke really liked Chase Field. He’s been playing solid defense at shortstop, and as I said, he’s been getting his hits.

I was thinking this morning about how much these guys are a team. They have really bonded and are working together. David Eckstein gets a hit in the top of the first, and Adrian hits a home run to give Jake a lead. Jake holds down Arizona while his offense gets him plenty of runs. The defense behind him has been so solid. Whenever a runner gets on base, the players will do the little things like a sacrifice bunt. Scotty did that last night and ended up at third. They don’t give up, and they keep playing hard all through the game. This is truly a team.

The first five guys in the lineup had one, three, two, two, and one hits respectively. Even Jake got a hit! We had 11 hits total. We got five walks, and were 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

I don’t know what it is, but this team is really clicking right now. They’re working together and they are winning. I’m enjoying this. Who knows how long it will last?

Today the Padres have an off-day before playing the Rockies for three this weekend. Hmm…really hot team against really cold team. It’s going to be interesting. Josh Geer, Chris Young, and Chad Gaudin will probably be pitching.

Well, boys, what do you say? Another series win?

Why not?

GO PADRES!!!

(photo credits: AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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8 Comments

Thanks for commenting on my blog. I enjoyed reading your entry here as well. The Padres are a very solid team, but it looks like it will be tough to catch up to the Dodgers, Manny-less or not. It’s nice to see the Padres proving doubters wrong, after many wrote them off at the start of the season.

What a great job by the Padres yesterday. Eck was 3 for 4, Adrian hit a homer and got 3 RBI’s, and everything is clicking for the Padres! I sure hope Jake is alright, ’cause I’m going to the game on Monday, and i want to see him pitch! GO PADRES!!!!!!!!!http://adriangonzalez23.mlblogs.com

kaybee,
I feel for you about Eric Byrnes making good plays. That dude has made some good ones against my Dodgers. He is a crazy dude and grew up being a Giant fan.
.
Emma posting from the hotel in Chicagohttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

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